• Home
• About Us
• Membership
• Activities
• Resources
• Capacity Building for Partnerships
• News
• Events
• Contact Us

How to Apply

1. Membership Eligibility Criteria

The Network wishes to maintain a balance among membership from institutions with national policy responsibility in the area of microfinance, commercial banks or similar financial institutions, NGOs and support organisations.. Candidate organisations fall into one of the following four categories:

(a) institutions which exercise national level policy responsibility in the area of microfinance in one of the countries represented in the Network

(b) NGOs and similar microfinance institutions with good performance as measured by level of financial self-sufficiency and scale of operations. The Network shall consider institutions that are fully self-sufficient or whose record demonstrates the vision and commitment to become self-sufficient. Microfinance must also be the core of the activities developed by the institutions.

(c) regulated financial institutions, such as commercial banks, that demonstrate a commitment to microfinance.

(d) support organisations that provide technical and other assistance to microfinance institutions. The number of support institutions shall be restricted to ensure at least three-quarters of the BWTP Network are financial institutions.

Institutions which satisfy the criteria in any of the above four categories and which are unable for any good reason to accept membership of the BWTP Network may be invited by the Executive Committee to participate in Network activities as Associated Institutions. They may attend the Annual General Meeting but will not be entitled to vote.

Donors, International Agencies/NGOs will also be invited to join the network as Associated Institutions.

All applicants must also:

• Be legally constituted in their country of operation,
• Show evidence of commitment to microfinance development,
• Provide a strategy and business plan including target clientele and positioning in the microfinance sector,
• Provide a description of the organization governance structure,
• Commit to fulfill responsibilities to the BWTP network including 1) regular reporting, 2) services cost-sharing, 3) in kind contributions to build the network knowledge and capabilities.

2. Benefits and responsibilities

The BWTP network expects in the next 3 years to support the development of the microfinance sector in the Asia region by becoming:

• a leading advocate for a policy environment that is conducive to the growth and strengthening of a socially-development focused, market-oriented microfinance sector, committed to help the poor get out of the poverty syndrome.
• a regional platform for partnerships, peer learning and cross-fertilization of ideas;
• a unique vehicle to assist organizations to reach scale, sustain growth and become more efficient,
• a regional forum to disseminate best practices, innovations, standards, tools and methods.

a) Benefits for members

The BWTP network provides members with opportunities to:

• use of the BWTP Network name and logo, under circumstances approved by the Executive Committee, in member organisation publications and letterheads,
• subject to availability of resources, receipt of newsletters, publications and technical materials produced or sourced by the Network with a focus on best practices knowledge in microfinance, regionally and internationally,
• pparticipation in national and regional program activities conducted by the Network, including meetings and workshops/forums, and/or conferences,
• subject to availability of resources, access training and technical assistance as well as targeted value-added services to members,
• establishing channels of communication by the Network on behalf of member institutions to multilateral and bilateral development agencies and international financial institutions concerned with microfinance development,
• establishing and strengthening collaborative relationships with other international networks,
• publishing and dissemination of member’s work, tools and achievements,
• access an interactive website comprising a regional information database, major publications, discussion lists, news and interactive programs.

b) Responsibilities of members

• Members of the BWTP Network, are expected to work constantly towards achieving the BWTP Network’s objectives with an active participation in the network activities,
• Members are expected to participate in the BWTP Network’s conference,
• Members are responsible for paying their annual fees at rates approved by the Annual General Meeting.

3. Membership application approval process

Applications will be sent to the BWTP secretariat. A Membership Committee elected, with the support of the BWTP secretariat  will assess a candidate’s eligibility and interest in joining the network

Membership nominations will be sent to the Executive Committee for approval.

4. Membership fees

Members are sought to financially contribute to the network:

• For organizations: payment of an entry fee of US$150 and an annual membership fee of:

- US$150 for Non-Profit Organizations

- US$350 for all other institutions

To keep the diversity of members and the right balance between the different kinds of organizations, the BWTP network can decide to refuse or postpone an application for membership.

5. Membership Application Form

We are currently in the process of revising our membership process, so we are not currently accepting any new membership applications. If you are interested in becoming a member of the network, we recommend that you submit your contact details at http://www.vision6.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=147942&s=0&u=18388&k=d4fdcd1 and we will notify you by when the application process will be re-opened.

• BWTP Brochure (PDF)